Loyalty, Corruption, and Fate in Middle Earth

7/29/2019 Loyalty, Corruption, and Fate in Middle Earth

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Isaac Skalsky

Mr. Reynolds

College Composition

May 25, 2012

Loyalty, Corruption, and Fate in Middle Earth

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is one of the most remembered authors of the twentieth

century. Tolkien was born on January 3, 2012 to Arthur and Mabel Tolkien in South Africa. His

mother moved to Birmingham, England after the death of his father. He spent his childhood

there. He later became a professor at Oxford for twenty years. He was a writer, poet, and

university professor. He is credited for writing, what some would call, the greatest epic of our

time The Lord of the Rings. He studied many languages and used his knowledge to create

multiple languages for his books. His other works include The Hobbitand The Silmarillion. He

was also a member of the Inklings, a group of authors and publishers surrounded around C.S.

Lewis and Charles Williams. At the meetings, the group would share and criticize each others

unpublished work. Tolkien was also a devout Roman Catholic. Tolkien died two years after his

wife on September 2, 1973. Tolkiens works have been said to be the greatest works of the

twentieth century. The Hobbitand the first volume of theLord of the Rings, (The Fellowship of

the Ring) are some of the most read novels in the world. In both The Hobbitand The Fellowship

of the Ring, Tolkien conveys the themes of loyalty, corruption, and fate.

The Hobbitis the tale of a fifty year old hobbit, who lives in a hole called Bag End. His

peace and comfort is interrupted when the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves visit Bilbo. Their

leader, Thorin Oakenshield, asks Bilbo to come with on a trip to take back the treasure that is his

inheritance from the dragon Smaug. Thorin even offers him a share in the treasure. Bilbo half-


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heartedly agrees and takes off on with them. On the way to the dragons lair, the party runs into

many obstacles including trolls. Three trolls capture the dwarves but Bilbo and Gandalf escape.

Gandalf uses magic to make the trolls argue and they lose track of time. At dawn, the trolls turn

to stone and the dwarves are able to be freed by Gandalf and Bilbo. The group searches the trolls

belongings and their cave, and Gandalf and Thorin each take a sword for themselves. Bilbo also

grabs a small blade for himself. Soon the adventure continues on its course and they stop briefly

in Rivendell. Once the party continues on from there, all but Gandalf are captured by goblins in

the Misty Mountains. The goblin king is about to execute the group when Gandalf shows up,

saves them by slaying the king. Bilbo has been knocked unconscious in the caves. He wakes up

alone and he gropes through the tunnels. His hand then runs across a ring. He puts it in his

pocket and wanders to an underground lake where he runs into a slimy creature named Gollum.

Gollum is a vile creature that tries to eat Bilbo, but Bilbo slides on the ring and becomes

invisible. Gollum leads the invisible Bilbo right to the exit and Bilbo runs to catch up with

Gandalf and the dwarves. The party faces many more dangers on their journey from wargs,

elves, and giant spiders. When Bilbo saves the group from the spiders, he names his sword Sting.

Once the party gets to Smaugs lair, Bilbo sneaks in and steals a cup to prove his worthiness to

the dwarves. Smaug is angered and he goes out and raises the nearby town of Dale. In Dale,

Smaug is shot by Bard, a human townsperson. With Smaug dead, Thorin has the dwarves fortify

the entrance because the elves and humans arrive wanting a share in the treasure as

compensation for their town. Thorin refuses, but soon an army of wargs and goblins upon the

groups. Bilbo, the dwarves, the humans, and the elves are forced to band together as a force of

good to fight off the evil creatures. The good races win but Thorin is fatally wounded. With his


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dying breaths he tells Bilbo that if there were more people like the hobbits, the world would be a

better place. Bilbo takes his share of the treasure and he and Gandalf return to Bag End.

TheFellowship of the Ringis the sequel to The Hobbiteven though The Hobbitis not

part of theLord of the Rings epic. The story begins with the friendly face of Bilbo Baggins

preparing for his eleventy-first birthday party. It has been many years since The Hobbit

concluded and Bilbo has chosen his nephew, Frodo Baggins, as his heir. At the party, Bilbo is

giving a speech and ends it with his disappearance as he slips on the ring he took from Gollum in

The Hobbit. At this, he quickly collects the things he will bring with him and takes his leave

from Bag End and the Shire. Before he goes however, he suddenly changes his mind about

leaving the Ring to Frodo. However, after a brief confrontation with Gandalf, he puts the ring on

the mantle and sets out. Frodo receives all of Bag End and the Ring and lives happily for more

than thirty years. He never uses the ring because of a cryptic warning from Gandalf. When Frodo

is in his fifties, Gandalfreturns gravely and explains all about Frodos ring. He casts it into the

fire proving that it is the one ring to rule them all. . . and in the darkness bind them (Fellowship

49). Frodo hears the history of the ring and that Sauron plans to search the Shire for it. Frodo

decides that he must leave the Shire to protect his fellow hobbits and keep the ring from Sauron.

Gandalf and Frodo plan the departure for Frodos next birthday in the fall. Gandalf chooses Sam

Gamgee to accompany Frodo. Gandalf then leaves, promising to return before Frodos birthday.

When Gandalf doesnt return, Frodo and Sam leave with their friends Merry and Pippin, who

refuse to be left behind. They soon discover they are being followed by black riders. The party

attempts to avoid the Black Riders by going through the Old Forest. On the edge of the forest,

the group runs into Tom Bombadil. He is the oldest being in Middle Earth with unknown origins.

He has power over almost all things in nature. He shelters the group for a time and then sends


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them on their way to Bree. In Bree, the group stays at the Prancing Pony and they meet a man

named Aragorn going by the alias Strider. He helps the group avoid multiple attacks by the

Black Riders and accompanies them to Rivendell. He also helps Frodo after Frodo is stabbed by

a cursed dagger that the Black Riders carry. At the river crossing near Rivendell, Frodo is

overcome by his wound and wakes up many days later in Rivendell. Many influential people of

Middle Earth are in Rivendell at this time, seemingly by fate. A council is held with all the

influential beings and it is decided that the Ring needs to be destroyed. They also decide that

Frodo will be the ring bearer and he will have a fellowship to help him get the ring to The Cracks

of Doom. Nine total go with the fellowship, including Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, and

Aragorn. After a few months of relaxation, the party sets out to find many dangers and hardships

in their way. Frodo and the eight travel through the underground city of Moria. The city has been

abandoned by the dwarves for many years and its now inhabited by evil beasts including a

balrog, an evil demon. Gandalf fights with the balrog only to fall into a mineshaft and die. The

party escapes the mountain without Gandalf. They stop in Lothlrien and meet Lady Galadriel,

an elven queen with great power. After leaving the elves, Boromir attacks Frodo and tries to take

the Ring because he wants to use it against Sauron. Upon escaping Boromir, Frodo decides that

he needs to continue alone because the Ring will continue to corrupt the party. Sam expects

Frodos plan so he heads Frodo off and the story ends with Sam and Frodo sneaking away from

the rest of the group to head to Mordor. . . alone.

In The Hobbitloyalty plays a major part in important situations. Early in the story, the

dwarves and Bilbo do not get along. The dwarves only bring him because of Gandalfs

insistence. Bilbo and the dwarves slowly grow on each other as the story progresses. Bilbos first

act of loyalty comes at an odd moment. In the Mirkwood Forest, Bilbo and the Dwarves have


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been captured by the evil spiders. Once Bilbo frees himself, he is unsure what to do. He does not

know where the others are and Gandalf left them days ago to go fight the Necromancer. When he

stumbles upon more spiders he sees that the dwarves are hung from trees and the spiders are

about to kill the dwarves. Bilbo comes in and saves the group by killing or scaring off the

spiders, and cutting the dwarves out of the trees. This is Bilbos first act of loyalty. He could

easily run for safety and return home after freeing himself. He even thinks of the path to safety.

He stood a long while wondering in what direction the path lay, and in what direction he should

go first to look for the dwarves (Hobbit167). He could forget about the dwarves and the

adventure but he searches them out. He puts his own life on the line to save those that he hardly

knows or trusts. Because of his efforts, he bonds with the dwarves and they start to get along

better and trust each other more. Novels For Students says that Bilbo eventually gains [the

dwarves] respect with his cleverness, courage and wisdom (The Hobbit 101). This truth is

evident in this chapter of the story.

Bilbo again conveys his loyalty to the dwarves in another rescue attempt. Not long after

the spider incident, the dwarves are stumbling through the woods when wood-elves jump out

with bows and spears. The dwarves halt and do not even attempt a fight or escape because they

were in a state that they were actually glad to be captured due to their hunger, thirst, and

weariness (Hobbit182). Bilbo however quickly slips on his ring and gets out of the way so he

can avoid capture. The dwarves are taken prisoner and when they refuse to tell the king about the

reason they are in the forest, they are thrown in jail cells. Bilbo wanders through the woods for

many days unable to find the path. He eventually breaks into the elves store rooms so he can eat

because he is starving. Then he has to make a choice. I am a burglar that cant get away, but

must go on miserably burgling the same house day after day, he thought. This is the dreariest


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and dullest part of all this wretched, tiresome, uncomfortable adventure! I wish I was back in my

hobbit-hole by my own warm fireside with the lamp shining! (Hobbit186). He can either

search again for the path and return home or help the others and push on. Out of loyalty, Bilbo

sneaks into the castle and runs from room to room and finds the dwarves. He then conveys

messages through the keyholes of their cells. He makes a plan to break them out and then shoved

them in barrels and float them down the river to Lake-town. To do this was an amazing feat for

not only Bilbo, but for any hobbit. First of all, his instincts told him to leave and go home, to find

a way home to comfort, but he disregarded them so that he could save his companions. Also he

has to once again sneak around and risk detection. If the king of the elves finds him, he will be

furious and probably kill Bilbo. It is through saving the dwarves again that Bilbo earns their trust

and loyalty. He learns that the dwarves. . . are loyal and brave friends (The Hobbit 101). He

does everything he has to regardless of comfort out of loyalty to his friends and Thorin, his

leader.

Bilbos last bout of loyalty is not actually to Thorin and the Dwarves. He is loyal to his

good nature. After the party banishes Smaug, he is killed by a man named Bard in Dale. Before

Bard is able to shoot Smaug with an arrow though, Smaug swoops down and sets the city ablaze.

He destroys Esgaroth and then once Bard kills him, the men and elves of the city travel up the

mountain and try to talk to Thorin. Bard consults him and asks for compensation for the city. He

says that it is Thorins fault that Smaug attacked and that the dwarves should share the treasure

to help rebuild the city. Thorin is insulted and says that he will have nothing to do with the

people. He says that the treasurer is rightfully his and he will only share with his companions.

Bilbo agrees with Bard and thinks that Thorin is being unreasonable. Earlier, Bilbo grabbed the

Arkenstone. It is a gem of more beauty than any other stone in Middle Earth. He took it as his


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share even though he knows it was Thorins most coveted item in the treasure. Bilbo does not tell

Thorin he has it and continues to keep it a secret until he sneaks out of the cave and gives it to

Bard so he can use it as a bargaining chip against Thorin. Thorin is furious with Bilbo. Bilbo

shows more courage now than anytime before. Loyalty to his good nature became more

important than the loyalty to his friends which shows great character in Bilbo. JK Rowling said it

best inHarry Potter And the Sorcerers Stone, There are all kinds of courage, said

Dumbledore, smiling. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as

much to stand up to our friends (306). Bilbo stands up and takes the criticism from his friends.

He does not try to act like he didnt do it. He does not lie. He fesses up and takes the dwarves

harsh reactions. His loyalty to good nature is even acknowledged in Thorins dying breaths after

the Battle of Five Armies. There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly

west. Some courage and some wisdom blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer

and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world (Hobbit301). Thorin finally realizes

that loyalty to good nature and kindness could make the world so much better.

TheFellowship of the Ringalso shows loyalty time and time again through hobbits in

Middle Earth. Once Frodo learns of the Rings origin, he realizes he needs to leave the Shire and

protect his friends, family, and fellow hobbits. He makes his arrangements with his friend

Sam.When he is about to leave, he is having trouble saying goodbye to his friends other than

Sam because Sam is joining him. He doesnt know how to explain to them why he is leaving and

that they can not come with. As he is stumbling through his words, Frodos friend Merry pipes

up and says [Frodo], you are miserable because you dont know how to say good-bye

(Fellowship 101). Frodo is surprised that his friends Merry, Pippin, and Fatty all know about his

plans. Sam steps forward as an informer, and Merry and Pippin tell Frodo that they are coming


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with, no matter what he says. Fatty plans on staying behind to take care of Frodos house and

make it look as if he is still there. This is just as dangerous of a job because the group knows

someone will come looking for Frodo and find Fatty. Frodo even says But I could not allow it.

I decided that long ago, too. You speak of danger but you do not understand. . . I am flying into

deadly peril. Merry responds simply with Of course we understand. That is why we have

decided to come (Fellowship 102). Frodo is touched by the loyalty of his friends all taking up

huge burdens to help him. He cannot argue with this response so he accepts two more onto his

journey and the four set off early the next morning. Novels for Students says in The Lord of the

Rings, Friendship is not to be underestimated, for though the allies are fewer than the armies of

the Dark Lord, they are bound in love and loyalty (124). Even Gandalf sees the usefulness of

the bond between the hobbits and their loyalty. He says, . . . in this matter it would be well to

trust rather to their friendship than to great wisdom (Fellowship 269). Loyalty plays a major

part in Merry and Pippins choice to accompany Bilbo. It is true friendship that drives such

loyalty.

Sam is the pinnacle of loyalty in The Fellowship of the Ring. He not only follows Frodo

obsessively but he also is in panic whenever he cannot help Frodo. Sam even calls Frodo his

master from time to time. This is first seen when the group runs into the elves on the road to

Buckland. When the elves and hobbits are staying the night in the woods, Sam curls up and

sleeps on Frodos feet so he does not have to leave Frodos side. Then, loyalty appears again

after the hobbits arrive at Rivendell. Frodo is badly injured and sleeps for many days in Elronds

house, and Sam barely ever leaves his side. Gandalf says so when Frodo finally awakes. The

biggest testament to Sams devotion and loyalty to Frodo is his choice to accompany Frodo into

Mordor and to the Cracks of Doom. Frodo chooses to abandon the group and proceed on to the


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Rings doom on his own because he knows how the ring corrupts those around it. The group

stops on the bank of a river. They are setting up camp when Boromir himself, the man traveling

with the fellowship, tries to kill Bilbo for the Ring. Boromir wants the ring to wield against

Sauron. The fight happens off the camp an hour into the woods, so no one else in the fellowship

realizes what really happens. When Sam realizes Frodo disappeared after Boromir returned, he

frantically starts to think of where and why. He realizes that Frodo is going on alone to the

Cracks of Doom. Sam could not live knowing his master would be alone on this journey, so he

sprints back to the boats they showed up in. Frodo originally tries to escape Sam without

detection but saves Sam when he starts drowning in the river. Frodo agrees to let Sam join him.

He even is happy that Sam showed up. But Im glad, Sam. I cannot tell you how glad. Come

along! It is plain that we were meant to go together (Fellowship 397). Kurt Bruner writes in

Finding God in The Lord of the Rings that Regardless of what dangers lay ahead, they were

going to face them together (48). The two grab some more food and clothes from their packs

and sailed down the river to an unknown fate.

Tolkien not only employed this loyalty through the people of Middle Earth, but oddly

enough, also through an animal. Gandalf has just convinced Elrond to allow Merry and Pippin to

be apart of the fellowship. They refused to be left behind and Gandalf believes that their loyalty

and friendship with Frodo will prove more beneficial than the strength or wisdom of any elf,

dwarf, or human. Elrond, somewhat reluctantly, agrees to the arrangement and sends Merry and

Pippin with the fellowship. Furthermore, none other than Bill, the pony from Bree, finds the

party as they are about to depart and intends on joining them. That animal can nearly talk

[Sam] said, and would if he stayed here much longer. He gave me a look as plain as Mr. Pippin

could speak it: if you dont let me go with you, Sam, Ill follow you on my own (Fellowship


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273). Sam is quite fond of Bill and says he should really stay behind. Bill just nudges Sam and

waits for the party to fill his saddlebags. This is not Bills first act of loyalty. After Frodo was

hurt by the Ringwraiths, Bill bore Frodo a long distance all the way to Rivendell. This is also an

example of loyalty by the hobbits and Aragorn. They willingly emptied Bills packs so he could

carry Frodo, and then took the extra burden on themselves. Bill is also a symbol of hope in this

story. Bill is mistreated by Bill Ferny. He is almost starved to death when the company buys him.

They ironically name him after his previous master. With very little help, the pony starts reviving

and coming to life. Without much food, the starved look leaves him and he becomes very happy.

Bill is an emblem of hope in the simple fact that amongst all this hell, he is happy for what he

has. Bill Ferny is in league with Sauron, so Bill the pony knows what it is like to be on Saurons

side of the fence. It takes everyone working together, everyone a hero, to outsmart and defeat

evil (The Lord of the Rings 124). Bill really makes the statement of everyone true to an

unexpected degree by being loyal to Frodo and company and by assisting the fellowship.

The Hobbitconveys the theme of corruption. Gollum is a prime character to show

corruption. Gollum lived on a slimy island of rock in the middle of the lake. . . Bless us and

splash us, my preciousss! (Hobbit83). He has been underground for many many years. The

narrator tells the reader this as Gollum and Bilbo are playing the riddle game. The reader also

discover that Gollum constantly refers to himself in the third person and talks to his precious.

The reader does not know what his precious is until he goes to find his birthday present from the

days he used to live in the sun. It is a ring. The narrator tells the reader it is a magic ring he used

to wear all the time. It makes the wearer invisible. Gollum goes to retrieve his precious and finds

that it is missing. He thinks about Bilbos last riddle What have I got in my pocket? and

realizes that, to his horror, Bilbo has his precious ring (Hobbit89). Gollum chases Bilbo who


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falls and slips the ring on. It makes him invisible and Gollum runs right by him. He follows

Gollum and Gollum eventually leads him out of the tunnels and caves. The reader can see how

much the ring has corrupted Gollum and how Gollum has been reduced to this gross, slimy state.

It has not only corrupted his mind, but also his behavior. The narrator tells the reader that

Gollum once lived out in the sun. The Ring has brought him into hiding and the depths of

solitude. Robert FostersA Guide to Middle Earthstates that Gollum hid in the Misty

Mountains, falling more and more under the control of the Ring until 2941, when he lost it

(114). Gollum also says that he has had the Ring for ages and ages. This shows that the Ring has

gave him an abnormally long life. His eating habits have become almost cannibalistic. He is

eating creatures that seem so close to his species, such as hobbits and goblins. Gollum has clearly

been corrupted by the Ring.

Another character who has been corrupted is Smaug. Many readers do not think much of

Smaug or his history. Smaug has been described as the greatest dragon of his time. In 2770,

hearing of the wealth of Erebor, Smaug destroyed Dale and drove the Dwarves away from the

Kingdom under the Mountain. For nearly 200 year he gloried in his treasure (Foster 237). The

first time Smaug appears, is when Bilbo is sneaking around trying to find his weaknesses and

other useful tips for helping Thorin retake his throne. Bilbo first arrives and assumes that Smaug

is asleep. He wears his ring as a precaution and then Smaug announces that he can smell, hear,

and feel Bilbo breathe. They spend a long time riddling with each other and then Bilbo leaves,

but takes the Arkenstone and a chalice as he goes. Smaug is infuriated when he realizes the

treasures are gone and goes out and raises the town of Dale. In Dale, a man living their named

Bard takes his bow and shoots the soft spot in Smaugs stomach and kills him. Smaug was the

greatest dragon for hundreds of years. He was even wise when he told Bilbo about the dwarves.


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I suppose [the dwarves] are skulking outside, and your job is to do all the dangerous work and

get what you can when Im not looking-for them? And you will get a fair share? Dont you

believe it! If you get off alive you will be lucky (Hobbit236). This testament foreshadows the

backstabbing nature of Thorin after he reclaims the treasure. For Smaug, a wise dragon, to live in

isolation for two hundred years after being the greatest dragon in all of Middle Earth, is a major

change. This is all from the greed and corruption caused by the treasure under the mountain.

Thorin himself is an emblem of corruption. He goes through this whole adventure only to

get to the mountain and become what he destroyed. When Smaug does not return to the treasure,

the dwarves enter the treasure room and Thorin immediately starts hoarding the treasure like

Smaug. He does hold up his bargain with his companions and shares, but when the people of

Esgaroth show up looking for compensation for their town, Thorin rudely turns them away and

barricades the entrances. He also is in desperate search of the Arkenstone that he does not know

Bilbo took. Then the men and elves of Esgaroth get angry are about to start attacking the

entrance to the mountain when goblins and wargs show up to fight for the treasure. Thorins

cruelty is showing his corruption when he sees what is now his treasure. InMaster of Middle-

Earth, Paul Kocher comments on the way Thorin acted towards the people of Esgaroth and Dale.

Kocher states that Thorins refusal is characterized as dwarfish lust for gold fevered by

brooding on the dragons hoard (22). Thorin himself said nothing we will give, not even a

loafs worth, (Hobbit276). Thorin became the new Smaug for the people of Dale. He was

corrupted by his own treasure.

TheFellowship of the Ringhas even more extreme examples of corruption. In the very

first chapter, the friendly face of Bilbo is throwing a party for his eleventy-first birthday. He has

invited many many guests of all different races. Mainly hobbits show up and everyone is excited


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for Gandalfs firework display. The direct family members of Bilbo, however, are invited to a

special, private dinner one night. On this night, Bilbo gives a short speech explaining his choice

of Frodo as his heir. He ends the speech by putting on his magic ring and disappearing in front of

the whole gathered assembly. He then goes back into his house and collects a few things to take

with him because he plans on traveling again and never returning to Bag End. When he is about

to leave Gandalf arrives and reminds Bilbo that he was going to leave the ring behind as well.

Bilbo all of a sudden doesnt want to be parted from the ring. When Gandalf says that he must

leave it behind Bilbo becomes cross and starts arguing with Gandalf. Gandalf too becomes angry

and tells Bilbo to Do as you promised: Give it up! Well if you want my ring for yourself, say

so! cried Bilbo. But you wont get it. I wont give my precious away, I tell you (Fellowship

33). This point shows that the ring has corrupted Bilbo enough to make him get mad at Gandalf

and to have the Gollum-like tendency to call the Ring my precious. Luckily for Bilbo, this was

about as deep as the Rings evil got to him. Randel Helms says in his bookTolkiens World,

Bilbo is touched by the Ring according to his nature and is moved to lie about how he got it but

is otherwise unaffected except that he grows no older (34-35). Even still, the Ring changed

Bilbo. Later in the story, in Rivendell, Frodo and Bilbo are reunited and when Bilbo asks to see

the Ring, it is as if the whole world has froze and all Bilbo wants is to take the Ring back. This

shows the everlasting effect of the Ring on Bilbos character.

Many people are corrupted by the Ring. Saruman and Boromir included. Saruman the

White is the head wizard in The Fellowship of the Ring. He is thought to be among the wisest

and most powerful of the whole order of wizards. Gandalf never made it to Hobbiton before

Frodos departure. The pair do not meet up again until Rivendell. Then Gandalf tells his story

and why he never made it back to Bag End. It turns out that Gandalf is summoned to Sarumans


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tower to meet with him. The past many years, Saruman has always said that the Ring would

never return, and it is nothing to worry about. When Gandalf arrives at his tower, Saruman spins

Gandalf a tale of ruling all of Middle Earth together. We he repeatedly says. We will rule

together. Gandalf looks at his superior in disgust because he realizes that the Ring has corrupted

his leader and that Saruman is just power hungry now. He then says, Saruman, only one hand

at a time can wield the One, and you know that well, so do not bother to say we! (Fellowship

253).Saruman is infuriated and locks Gandalf in a tower too high to use magic to get himself

down. Gandalf waits there many months and eventually he sees one of the great eagles flying by.

He summons the eagle and tells him his situation. The eagle then bears him away from

Sarumans tower and Gandalf goes as fast as he can to Rivendell where he hopes to find Frodo

already there, safe. It is obvious that the once great and wise Saruman has been corrupted by the

Ring. In Rivendell there is a man named Boromir. Boromir is the son of the ruler in Gondor. He

accompanies the fellowship on their way to Mordor. He has always thought the best way to end

Sauron would be to use the Ring against him. The Rings power corrupts him and he eventually

attacks Frodo for the ring. The spell of the Ring, which has tempted him at least since Lrien,

proved too great for him and he tried to kill Frodo (Foster 35). Both of these examples show the

Rings ability to corrupt anyone.

Many characters throughout the story resist the Ring and refuse to accept it from Frodo

even though they would be able to get it to the Cracks of Doom easier. The One Ring is the

Ring of Power, and it destroys everyone who tries to possess it (The Lord of the Rings 123).

These characters are all too wise to even allow the Ring the chance to tempt them. When Frodo

offers the ring to Gandalf, he tells Frodo that it is not wise to trust something so powerful with

one already so powerful. Tom Bombadil also avoids the Ring even though its power of


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invisibility does not work on him. He is still wise enough to know that he will be corrupted by

power if he tries to use the Ring. He has a passion for his life and Goldberry, his wife, so he tells

Frodo that it is not his place to take the Ring. Aragorn and Elrond both have the same reasons for

telling Frodo no when he offers it to them. When the fellowship gets to Lothlrien, they meet the

Queen Galadriel. She is the most powerful in all of Middle Earth. She is also very wise and very

beautiful. She has a looking glass that shows her the past, present, and future, but she never

knows for sure which it is showing. She bears one of the three elven rings of power. She gave the

fellowship many gifts when they visited her, and Frodo offered her the ring as well. I will give

you the One Ring, if you ask for it. It is too great a matter for me [said Frodo]. Galadriel

laughed with a sudden clear laugh, . . .many long years I have pondered what I might do, should

the great ring come into my hands, and behold! Galadriel ends with, I pass the test

(Fellowship 356). Galadriel was referring to the test of the ring. She resists because of her

wisdom. She is able to see that even she is not powerful enough to resist corruption.

Fate seems to be a force in Middle Earth that many people are aware of. In The Hobbit,

the reader sees that fate seems to have stepped in and made Gandalf choose Bilbo for the

adventure. Gandalf arrives at Bilbos home at Bag End and explains who he is and that he is

looking for someone to go on an adventure. Bilbo tells him that it is unlikely he will find anyone

who is looking for an adventure in Hobbiton. When Gandalf asks Bilbo to join him on his

expedition, Bilbo is frazzled and declines. He sends Gandalf away but invites him for tea the

following day. The next day there is a knock at the door; Bilbo opens it to find two dwarfs

instead of Gandalf. He is surprised to find that, over the next hour, twelve more dwarves arrive.

Bilbo finds his cupboards being depleted when Gandalf finally arrives and explains that the

adventure will be with this crew of dwarves. The dwarves are skeptical about bringing a hobbit


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but Gandalf reassures them You asked me to find the fourteenth man for your expedition, and I

choose Mr. Baggins. Just let anyone say I choose wrong the man. . . and [you can] have all the

bad luck you like (Hobbit27). Bilbo resists adamantly until the dwarves sing a song of

adventure, treasure, and glory. Then Bilbo adventurous side peeks out, he accepts the invitation

and is hired on as a burglar. It could be said that Gandalf choose Bilbo because he knew of

Bilbos family history and he knew that his mothers Took blood ran in Bilbos veins. The

Tooks are an adventurous family of hobbits and in Middle Earth, heritage decides a characters

personality. Even though Gandalf knows this, the idea of bringing a hobbit on a dangerous

adventure such as trying to take the treasure from Smaug, is ridiculous. Gandalf implies that

fate partly determined the course of Bilbos adventure (The Hobbit 101). Fate guided Gandalf

to Bilbo and helped him persuade the dwarves to choose him as the fourteenth member of the

company.

Fate also leads Bilbo to the Ring. He wakes up from being unconscious in the Misty

Mountains when he realizes he is lost among the tunnels. Bilbo starts wandering around and he

eventually slips and finds the Ring in the dark. [Bilbo] crawled a good way, till suddenly his

hand met what felt like a tiny ring of cold metal lying on the floor of the tunnel (Hobbit79). He

does not exactly know what it is, so he puts it in his pocket for later investigation. It is this ring

that makes his whole adventure possible. Without it, he would have never escaped Gollum.

When the dwarves were captured by spiders, he would not have been able to save them.

Assuming that they had survived those encounters, Bilbo would not have been able to hide from

the elves when they captured the dwarves. Also, the Ring kept him out of Smaugs sight when he

was exploring the great dragons lair. It seems as if the Ring was meant to be Bilbos to help him

on his quest. Fate seems evident in Bilbos finding of the Ring because the likelihood of him


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slipping and crawling on the floor right over the exact spot that Gollum dropped the Ring is very

bad. While many events in the novel seem to occur by chance, especially Bilbos discovery of

the ring of power that grants him invisibility, the character ostensibly are ruled by fate (The

Hobbit 100). Fate always seems to be changing Middle Earth.

Fate also had a hand in changing Bilbos personality. After Gandalf has left the party in

the Mirkwood Forest, they disregard his warnings and walk off the path. The group falls into a

deep sleep. When Bilbo wakes, he finds himself being wrapped up in spiders web by a massive

spider. He wiggles his hand loose and cuts himself out of the web with the sword he took from

the trolls cave. Then he has a short battle with the spider itself and kills it with a stab to the eye.

In this instant, Bilbo has finally done something on his own. He won that battle without Gandalf

and without the dwarves. He decides to mark this point in his life by naming his sword Sting.

The change in the swords name symbolizes the change in Bilbo himself. He felt a different

person, and much fiercer and bolder in spite of an empty stomach (Hobbit167). Without doing

this act, Bilbo would have never been able to accomplish the things he did in the rest of this

adventure and his life. In The Master of the Ringsby Susan Ang, the author writes, The

sequence with the spiders, during which the dagger Sting is used and acquires its name, appears

to act as a rite of passage for Bilbo. It is a moment in his progress towards heroic status (52).

This truly is a right of passage set up by fate. Fate gives Bilbo this life changing moment to have

the power to evade the elves, face Smaug, and fight in the Battle of Five armies.

The Fellowship of the Ringis littered even more with examples of fate and its effect on

Middle Earth. In the second chapter, Gandalf has returned to see Frodo many years after Bilbos

departure. Gandalf and Frodo spend all night talking and catching up. Frodo finds out much

about the world outside the Shire. The next morning, Gandalf gets to the reason why he actually


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came to see Frodo. He has come to explain the Ring. Gandalf starts by explaining a little about

rings of power. He tells Frodo that there were twenty at one point. Now there are for sure sixteen

left, and one of them can control the others. He then asks Frodo to see the Ring and, to Frodos

displeasure, throws it into the hottest part of the fire. In a minute he takes it out and finds that the

heat has not even made the gold warm. The only change is a small elfin lettering that now is

visible on the Ring. Gandalf reads it and it confirms that this ring is the One Ring to rule them

all, One ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

(Fellowship 49). Gandalf then goes into a short history of this specific ring and he tells Frodo

that people will probably come to the Shire looking for him and the Ring. Frodo is frustrated and

asks Gandalf why Bilbo should have been the one to find it. Gandalf replies that I can put it no

plainer than by saying that Bilbo was meantto find the Ring, and notby its maker. In which case

you also were meantto have it (Fellowship 55). Here the readers sees works of fate. The Ring

passes through many hands after Sauron loses. It is clear that the Ring sees no use for Gollum

anymore and needs a way out of hiding. It needs to get out of the Misty Mountains and back into

the sunlight where a new (or previous) master could wield it. Fate has another plan and sends the

Ring, Bilbo Baggins. He was meantto have it by fate. Then Bilbo passes it on, for it is now

Frodos turn to have it. It becomes evident in the second chapter. . .that the workings of

Providence will be basic to the narrative when Gandalf tells Frodo he was meantto have the

Ring (Helms 82). Frodo is meantto take it and be the Ring Bearer.

The appearance of Tom Bombadil on the edge of the Old Forest is yet another example of

fate in The Fellowship of the Ring. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin have been walking for days

on end through the Old Forest. The party has been following a river for some time. They are

almost out the other side when they all get very drowsy. This sudden drowsiness puts Pippin,


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Merry, and the Ponies to sleep almost immediately. Frodo finds the drowsiness odd, but he soon

becomes too tired to question it and falls asleep as well. Sam is tired as well but is skeptical

enough to walk back the direction they had came. A few yards away, his head all of a sudden

becomes clear again and he is fully awake. Then he hears a splash, and he runs to the banks of

the river where Frodo was sitting. Frodo is being held into the water by a tree root. Sam turns

around to find that Merry and Pippin have both been encased by the trees trunk. He hurries to

get Frodo out of the water, and the pair are stumped on how to get their friends out of the tree.

Merry and Pippin start screaming for help, but all seems hopeless. Frodo and Sam start yelling

for help even though they know no one is in hearing distance. Suddenly, a big jolly man by the

name of Tom Bombadil arrives of his own accord. He did not even hear the hobbits yelling.

Upon hearing what has happened, he hurries to the tree and says, You let them out Old Man

Willow! What be you a-thinking of? You should not be waking. Eat earth! Dig deep! Drink

water! Go to sleep! Bombadil is talking! (Fellowship 118). Then the tree cracks open and Tom

is able to pull the hobbits out. Fate most definitely has a power here. Tom did not hear the

despairing hobbits, yet he was there at the precise moment that they needed him. Toms

appearance is purely providential, necessary because the hobbits have yet to grow sufficiently to

help themselves and because his instructions are vital to the continuation of the quest (Helms

86). Providence can be translated as fate in this quote. Fate is the reason Tom came hopping

along the path because the hobbit's journey could not end there.

When the council in Rivendell is held, it is clear that fate brings people to the meeting.

Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Aragorn have been traveling as fast as they can to get to

Rivendell before Frodos wound kills him. When they get there, Frodo spends many days

recovering under Elronds care. When Frodo finally comes to, Gandalf is waiting there and he


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explains a little of what has happened in the last week or so while Frodo was unconscious. When

Frodo asks why Gandalf never made it to Hobbiton before Frodo left on his expedition, Gandalf

tells him that he will have to wait to hear the tale until the council is held. After Frodo gets up,

there is a huge feast held for him. The evening is filled with song and dance and the reunion of

Frodo and Bilbo. The next morning, Elrond holds a council. At the council are representatives

from all over Middle Earth. Strangely though, the majority of attendants were not invited and are

seemingly in Rivendell by coincidence. Elrond himself says, I have not called you to me,

strangers from distant lands. You have come and are here met, in this very nick of time

(Fellowship 236). Each member of the council has something important to share with the rest of

the council. Believe rather that it is ordered that we, who sit here, and none others, must now

find counsel for the peril of the world (Fellowship 236). Elrond is sure that it is not actually

coincidence that those present have all arrived at the same time. His second quote states that the

members of the council were chosen by fate to defeat the evil of Sauron. InMaster of Middle-

Earth, Paul H. Kocher states that nothing could be plainer than Elronds rejection here of

chance as the cause of the Council, however much on the surface it may seem to be so (37). It is

obvious that fate has brought the group together. Tolkien conveys this message through Elrond

because ofElronds wisdom and high standing.

The Hobbitand its sequel The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringshare so

much more than characters and setting. Many themes can be connected between the two great

novels. Among these are loyalty, corruption, and fate. Loyalty is apparent in both novels mainly

through hobbits. It is a very hobbit-like quality to be loyal. It is possibly the reason why hobbits

are chosen as the protagonists in Tolkiens works. Corruption is evident in mainly the Ring itself,

but also in power. The main reasons people of any world, novel, or story become corrupt is


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because they are enticed by power, domination, and riches. In other words, absolute power

corrupts absolutely. The Ring is a symbol of power and from that power, domination. In other

places, riches corrupt those such as Thorin and his fellow dwarves. However, fate has a way of

punishing those who have been corrupted. Fate brings Thorin to his death. Fate brings Saurons

downfall by bringing together the powers of Middle Earth to send the Ring to its doom. Fate also

saves the lives of Merry and Pippin. It brings the Ring to Smeagol (also called Gollum) and then

to Bilbo. Bilbo turns the ring over to Frodo because Frodo was meant to have it as well. Loyalty,

corruption, and fate are the dominating forces in Middle Earth. Tolkiens work is brilliant and

effective. He will continue to be one of the most read authors through the twenty-first century.


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Works Cited

Ang, Susan. The Master of the Rings. Duxford, Cambridge: Totem Books, 2002. Print.

Bruner, Kurt, and Jim Ware.Finding God in the Lord of the Rings. Wheaton, Illinois:Tyndale

Publishers, Inc., 2011. Print.

Foster, Robert.A Guide to Middle-Earth.New York: Ballantine Books, 1971. Print.

Helms, Randel. Tolkiens World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1974. Print.

The Hobbit.Novels for Students. Eds. Marie Napierkowski and Deborah Stanley. Vol. 8.

Detroit: Gale, 2000. 94-113. Print.

Kocher, Paul.Master of Middle-Earth.New York: Ballantine Books, 1972. Print.

The Lord of the Rings.Novels for Students. Eds. Ira Mark Milne. Vol. 26. Detroit: Gale, 2001.

113-130. Print.

Rowling, J.K.Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.New York: Scholastic Inc., 1997. Print.

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. Print.

---. The Hobbit. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1966. Print.

Loyalty, Corruption, and Fate in Middle Earth

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